As dawn broke on Makar Sankranti, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati turned into a sea of humanity, with faith pulling in crowds on a scale rarely seen even by the standards of the Magh Mela. An estimated 10.3 million devotees took the sacred dip at the Sangam, marking the second major bathing festival of Magh Mela 2026 and reinforcing Prayagraj’s position at the heart of India’s ritual calendar.
A day earlier, on the occasion of Ekadashi, around 8.5 million pilgrims had entered the mela area for the holy bath, setting the stage for the massive turnout on Makar Sankranti.
WHY MAKAR SANKRANTI DRAWS MILLIONS
Makar Sankranti holds a central place in Hindu tradition, linked to the sun’s transition into the zodiac sign of Capricorn. Scriptures attach special merit to bathing at the Triveni Sangam on this day, with belief that the ritual washes away sins and opens the path to liberation. During the Magh Mela period, the Sankranti bath is considered especially auspicious, prompting devotees to travel from across India and abroad to Prayagraj.
From the early hours, pilgrims queued along designated ghats, chanting prayers as they waited for their turn to enter the river. Despite the sheer scale of the gathering, the bathing rituals concluded without disruption.
SECURITY AND ADMINISTRATION ON HIGH ALERT
To manage the unprecedented footfall, the Uttar Pradesh administration deployed extensive security and crowd management arrangements across the mela area. Senior police and civil officials remained on the ground throughout the day, overseeing traffic movement, crowd flow and safety measures.
Among those monitoring the arrangements were Additional Director General of Police Jyoti Narayan, Inspector General Ajay Mishra, Divisional Commissioner Saumya Agrawal, Prayagraj Police Commissioner Jogendra Kumar, Additional Police Commissioner Dr Ajaypal Sharma, District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma, Mela Officer Rishiraj and Mela Superintendent of Police Neeraj Pandey. Regular instructions were issued to field teams to ensure the bathing festival passed off peacefully and in an orderly manner.
TRANSPORT SERVICES EASE PILGRIM MOVEMENT
Special transport measures also played a role in easing congestion. The Rapido bike service, introduced to help pilgrims navigate crowded routes, saw heavy use on Makar Sankranti, with more than 11,500 devotees using the facility in a single day. Since the beginning of the mela, over 138,500 pilgrims have been transported to their destinations through the service.
KHICHDI PRASAD AND A GESTURE OF OUTREACH
Beyond logistics and security, the administration also focused on the symbolic aspects of the festival. Senior officials distributed traditional khichdi prasad to pilgrims at various points in the mela area, a gesture that was warmly received and added to the festive atmosphere surrounding the sacred bath.
– Ends
Published By:
Sonali Verma
Published On:
Jan 16, 2026
